The Drawbacks of Living in Rome

Foreigners living in and in love with the Eternal City always talk about the perks of Rome. There are plenty of photos and stories out there to make people jealous of those who live here (including by me). If you want to hear about all the good things, then read my post on that, All the Things to Love about Rome.

Today I’m here to do the opposite. I’m here to talk about the drawbacks – the things we have to put up with to live in this otherwise wonderful city. There are plenty of things that will get you down about living in Italy. I’ve learned, however, that there are ways of dealing with them that will make your experience better. I’ve seen so many people come and go and maybe they never stayed long enough to learn the ins and outs and get accustomed to these differences.

The number one thing that will make you go nuts, not just in Rome but in Italy, is the bureaucracy. Never in my life have I wasted so much time trying to get things done from going to the post office to opening a bank account and finally trying to become an official resident. For a long time, I just avoided it as much as I could. But eventually, the day came when I realized I wasn’t leaving Rome and would actually have to face it. The best advice I received and will pass on is just to be patient. There’s nothing else you can do. If there’s one thing Italy will teach you, it’s to be patient and learn how to wait.

Next, of course, is public transportation. Rome probably has the worst public transportation system of any European capital city. Waiting for the bus feels like Russian Roulette. You never know what you’re going to get. It could come quickly, have AC, not be crowded, and take you to your destination fairly quickly…or it could take ages to come. Sometimes when it finally comes, it’s too crowded to get in; at which point you realize you could’ve just walked to your destination in that time. Other times it seems like it never comes. I believe it’s best to rely on the subway and trams, which are far more reliable, and your trusty feet.

If you want to skip the public transport drama, you could drive. But then you’ll realize that’s probably just as bad. Driving in Rome is a rollercoaster. Traffic is insane: there are way too many cars (and pedestrians) on the streets, the roads are confusing, and Romans don’t follow the law and are an anxious bunch. So, join the locals –  when in Rome, do as the Romans.

The next one is actually two things but I decided to put them together because I feel they both stem from their relaxed, slow-paced way of life: the slowness of people and the Italian line, or lack thereof. When Italians are walking somewhere, they seem to usually be out for a stroll rather than having to be somewhere, say for example at work by a certain time. Coming from frantic New York City where people will trample you down if you walk too slowly, I still find this one difficult to deal with even though I’ve slowed down quite a bit living here. The other thing is that they don’t know how to wait in a straight line. That would require too much order and that’s just not their thing. If you’re trying to get in somewhere and you’re wondering what the whole crowd hanging around randomly chatting is, that’s the Italian line. How to handle this one? You could use it to your advantage and sneak your way to the front, as many do.

Last is Italian men. They are all the stereotypes: handsome, charming, flirtatious, passionate…and often times womanizers. They will make you feel special and bring you to a high, only to then drop you to a low with no advance warning. Eventually, you’ll realize that the “special treatment” you’re getting isn’t that special because they treat everyone like that. The way to deal with this one has been a constant experiment for me, but I’m finding it’s best to enjoy it for what it’s worth and not take it too seriously because they sure aren’t. Being a woman, I can only give this perspective. I’m sure a whole other story could be written about Italian women, who I believe are also a special breed.

While there are downsides to living in this chaotic city, I see it as the price to pay for living in what’s also a very special city – one unlike any other in the world. I find they’re all worthwhile, the good and the bad, and the whole package should be accepted as it comes.